Wednesday Wines – Episode 292 – The 22nd Anniversary Launch of 100 Best Australian Wines
On Monday 24th of November, I launched my 100 Best Australian Wines 2026 initiative. It was a huge honour to showcase this elite 100 at Stoke Lodge, the official residence of His Excellency The Honourable Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
The event comprised two parts – a formal tasting with select UK buyers, wine writers and key merchants. This was followed by a private reception with the High Commissioner and his guests, including the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Philipson MP, Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Catherine West MP, and Diplomatic Corps colleagues including His Majesty’s Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison, High Commissioner of India Vikram Doraiswami and Ambassador of the Philippines Teodoro Locsin Jr.
As always, at the 100 Best Launch, I announced the Winery of the Year, and for 2026 this honour goes to Shaw + Smith, not only for their magnificent haul of headline wines in the 100 Best, as well as a large number of wines which will appear in the notes in the full Report which will be published in the New Year, but for 35 years of pioneering stunning cool climate winemaking, elite brand building and peerless industry leadership. Shaw + Smith’s wines have never been better, and I urge you to seek them out.
The 100 Best Australian Wines 2026 Report will feature the largest number of recommended wines in the initiative’s history, with 100 headliners and a further 224 wines mentioned in the write-ups. There is no doubt in my mind that Australian fine wine has never been more memorable, age-worthy, delicious, collectable, and unique, and this year’s Report sets out to celebrate Australia’s astonishing vinous achievements in the UK.
Here is a list of the 100 headline wines, their stockists and recommended retail prices. In some instances, the new vintages have yet to roll onto the shelves, and a couple of wines are arriving this month, so they have yet to score listings, but be assured, this list, designed as a complete buyer’s guide for 2026, will be up and running for my 100 Best Festivals in Q1.
The 100 Best Australian Wines 2026
Sparkling
2022 Idée Fixe, Premier Brut Blanc de Blancs, Margaret River, WA 12% £38, www.auswinesonline.co.uk, www.londonendwines.com
NV Jansz Tasmania, Premium Rosé, Tas 12% £19 www.frazierjones.wine, www.auswinesonline.co.uk, Booths Supermarkets
NV House of Arras, Brut Elite Rosé Cuvée 1801, Tas 13% £45 www.shelvedwine.com, www.carruthersandkent.com, www.lokiwine.co.uk
2024 Pizzini, Lambrusco Salamino, King Valley, Vic 12.5% £17 www.greatwine.co.uk
2020 Peter Lehmann Wines, Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14% £33 www.noblegreenwines.co.uk
White
Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
2025 Shaw + Smith, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills, SA 12% £21 www.tokesfoodanddrink.co.uk, www.majestic.co.uk
2024 Kaesler, Old Vine Semillon, Barossa Valley, SA 11.5% £24 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2022 Gundog Estate, Wild Semillon, Hunter Valley, NSW 11% £31 www.alexander-wines.co.uk, www.vinogusto.co.uk
2019 Tyrrell’s, Single Vineyard Pokolbin Hills Semillon, NSW 10.5% £24 www.thewinesociety.com, www.farehamwinecellar.co.uk
2019 Mount Pleasant, Single Vineyard Lovedale Cellar Aged Semillon, Hunter Valley, NSW 11% £64 www.shelvedwine.com, www.hic-winemerchants.com, www.timsyradwines.com
Riesling
2024 Forest Hill Vineyard, Estate Riesling, Mount Barker, WA 12% £22 www.yapp.co.uk
2025 Mount Horrocks, Watervale Riesling, Clare Valley, SA 12.6% £27 www.nywines.co.uk
2025 Grosset, Polish Hill Riesling, Clare Valley, SA 12.3% £50 www.vinquinn.com, www.bbr.com, www.nywines.co.uk, www.hedonism.co.uk
2024 Wakefield, St Andrews Riesling, Clare Valley, SA 11.5% £24 www.kenrickswines.com, www.sandhamswine.co.uk
2022 Jim Barry, The Florita Riesling, Clare Valley, SA 12% £38 www.hic-winemerchants.com, www.strictlywine.co.uk, www.allaboutwine.co.uk
2013 Pewsey Vale, Single Vineyard Estate The Contours Riesling, 10 Year Museum Release, Eden Valley, SA 12% £40 www.londonendwines.com
Aromatic
2024 Philip Shaw, The Dreamer Viognier, Orange, NSW 11.8% £22 www.fortnumandmason.com, www.quaffwine.com, www.generalwine.com
2024 Pikes, Luccio Fiano, Clare Valley, SA 12% £19 www.greatwine.co.uk
2024 Chaffey Bros, Düfte Punkt Field Blend, Eden Valley, SA 12.5% £20 www.greatwine.co.uk
2024 MMAD Vineyard, Blewitt Springs Chenin Blanc, McLaren Vale, SA 12.5% £32 www.vinquinn.com, www.rippondenwinecompany.co.uk
2024 Torbreck, The Steading Blanc, Barossa Valley, SA 13% £45 www.laywheeler.com
2023 Yalumba, The Virgilius Viognier, Eden Valley, SA 12.5% £45 www.amathusdrinks.com, www.flagshipwines.co.uk
Chardonnay
2023 Ox Hardy, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, SA 12% £19 www.ocado.com
2023 Silver Lining, Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, SA 14% £22 www.greatwine.co.uk
2023 Robert Oatley Wines, Signature Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 12.5% £15 www.vinvm.co.uk, www.cambridgewine.com, www.majestic.co.uk, www.coop.co.uk
2023 Briar Ridge, Briar Hill Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, NSW 13% £34 www.thewineimporters.com
2024 Port Phillip, Red Hill Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13.5% £30 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2023 Xanadu, Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 12.5% £26 www.nywines.co.uk, www.grapemindsdrinkalike.co.uk, www.ozwines.co.uk
2024 Ten Minutes By Tractor, 10X Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13% £34 www.winelibrary.co.uk
2024 Yabby Lake, Single Vineyard Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13% £34 www.charliesdrinkstore.co.uk, Vinko Wine Shop, www.hedonism.co.uk, www.swig.co.uk
2024 Nocturne, Wilson Vineyard, Wallcliffe Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13% £47 www.lockettbros.co.uk, www.vincognito.co.uk
2023 Irrewarra, Chardonnay, Western Vic 13% £49 www.shelvedwine.com
2023 Stargazer, Chardonnay, Tas 13% £59 www.greatwine.co.uk
2023 Tapanappa, Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay, Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, SA 12.9% £46, www.mosseandmosse.co.uk, www.londonendwines.com, www.farrvintners.com, www.uk.cruworldwine.com
2023 Moorooduc Estate, The Moorooduc McIntyre Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 12.7% £46 www.nywines.co.uk, www.caviste.co.uk, www.nickollsandperks.com
2024 Cherubino, Black Label Chardonnay, Pemberton, WA 13% £43 www.tauruswines.co.uk, www.oxfordwine.co.uk
2023 Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13% £58 www.bbr.com, www.crsfw.com
2022 Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, WA 13.5% £94 www.flintwines.com
2023 Penfolds, Bin 144 Yattarna Chardonnay, Aus 12.5% £120 www.justerinis.com, www.laywheeler.com, www.laithwaites.co.uk
2023 Giaconda Estate Vineyard, Chardonnay, Beechworth, Vic 13.5% £210 www.harrods.com, www.hedonism.co.uk, www.jeroboams.co.uk
Rosé
2025 Willunga 100, Blewitt Springs Grenache Rosé, McLaren Vale, SA 12% £18 www.sarahscellar.com, www.haywines.co.uk, www.bayley-sage.co.uk
Red
Pinot Noir
2023 Eastern Peake, Intrinsic Pinot Noir, Coghills Creek, Ballarat, Vic 12% £37.50 www.yapp.co.uk
2023 Mulline Vintners, Pinot Noir, Geelong, Vic 12.5% £26 www.marlo.wine, £30 Bedford Street Wines
2024 Wickhams Road, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Vic 13.7% £21, www.stonevine.co.uk
2024 Yering Station, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Vic 13.3% £26 www.vivino.com, www.corkingwines.co.uk
2023 Murdoch Hill, Apollo Pinot Noir, Lenswood, Adelaide Hills, SA 12.5% £53 info@thecheltenhamgrape.com
2024 Giant Steps, Single Vineyard Sexton Vineyard Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, Vic 13.5% £58 www.hedonism.co.uk, www.nywines.co.uk
2023 Shaw + Smith, Lenswood Vineyard Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, SA 13.5% £64 www.nywines.co.uk
2023 Kooyong, Single Block Haven, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13% £55 www.vinvm.co.uk, www.wineandwhisky.co.uk
2024 Chatto, Isle, Huon Valley Pinot Noir, Tas 13.5% £80 www.thefinewinecompany.co.uk
2024 Tolpuddle Vineyard, Coal River Valley Pinot Noir, Tas 13.5% £72 www.elementarywine.co.uk, www.bbr.com
2022 Picardy, Pinot Noir, Pemberton, WA 14% £57 www.thecorkandbottle.co.uk; £45 www.joesbrasserie.com; £52 www.shoreditchwinehouse.co.uk; £50 www.oakn4.co.uk; £55 www.1905.london; £57 www.plumewinebar.com; £45 www.thevineyardwineshop.co.uk
2023 Dalrymple, Mt. Lord Single Site Pinot Noir, Coal River Valley, Tas 13.5% £80 TBC
2023 Bass Phillip, Estate Pinot Noir Old Vines, Gippsland, Vic 14% £76 www.vincowines.com
2023 By Farr, RP Pinot Noir, Geelong, Vic 13.5% £100 www.shelvedwine.com, www.bbr.com
Weird & Wonderful
2022 Payten & Jones, Valley Vignerons Sangiovese, Yarra Valley, Vic 13.5% £28 www.thesalusburywinestore.com, www.vinogusto.co.uk
2023 Hugh Hamilton, The Oddball Saperavi, McLaren Vale, SA 14.8% £45 www.tilleys-wines.com
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Friends
2023 Moss Wood, Amy’s, Margaret River, WA 14% £21 www.jeroboams.co.uk, www.fieldandfawcett.co.uk, www.thewhalleywineshop.co.uk, www.hic-winemerchants.com, www.cheerswinemerchants.co.uk, www.experiencewine.co.uk, www.thesecretcellar.co.uk, www.waitrose.com
2023 Cherubino, Pedestal Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, WA 13% £17 www.noblegreenwines.co.uk, www.cheerswinemerchants.co.uk
2024 Cullen, Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot, Margaret River, WA 13% £35 www.vinvm.co.uk
2022 Vasse Felix, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, WA 14% £37 www.majestic.co.uk, www.auswinesonline.co.uk
2023 Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon, SA 13.8% £28 www.greatwine.co.uk
2021 Hickinbotham, The Nest Cabernet Franc, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £64 www.flintwines.com
2021 Parker, First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, SA 14.5% £70 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2022 Xanadu, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, WA 14% £68 www.ozwines.co.uk, www.fountainhallwines.co.uk, www.corkingwines.co.uk
The Great Australian Red (Cabernet & Shiraz/Syrah)
2022 Joshua Cooper, Greytown Old Vines Syrah/Cabernet, Heathcote, Vic 14% £79 www.leaandsandeman.co.uk
2022 Lake Breeze, Bernoota Shiraz/Cabernet, Langhorne Creek, SA 14.5% £23 www.harveynichols.com, www.shelvedwine.com, www.hic-winemerchants.com, www.allaboutwine.co.uk, www.fintrywines.co.uk, www.thechampagnecompany.com
2019 Tahbilk, Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Nagambie Lakes, Vic 14.5% £30 www.ratcliffe-co.com, www.shelvedwine.com, www.drinksdirect.com, www.strictlywine.co.uk, www.greatwinesdirect.co.uk, www.hic-winemerchants.com
2022 Yalumba, The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Barossa, SA 14.5% £45 www.thewinesociety.com, www.majestic.co.uk
2023 Penfolds, Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz, SA 14.5% £65 www.waitrosecellar.com, www.bbr.com, www.goedhuiswaddesdon.com
Grenache & Friends
2023 Paralian, Marmot Vineyard Grenache, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £32 www.parched.wine
2023 Dylan Grigg, Vinya Vella Old Bush Vine Grenache, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £40 www.nywines.co.uk, www.clarkfoysterwines.co.uk
2024 Willunga 100, Trott Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache, McLaren Vale, SA 14% £29 www.nywines.co.uk
2024 Alkina, Estate Grenache, Barossa Valley, SA 13.5% £36 www.flintwines.com
2024 Thistledown, Sands of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Grenache, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £50 www.chelseavintners.com, www.museumwines.co.uk
2022 Kintsugi by Ministry of Clouds, McLaren Vale, SA 14.8% £65 TBC
2022 S.C. Pannell, Sunrise 99 Grenache, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £100 www.nywines.co.uk, www.vincognito.co.uk
2021 Yangarra, High Sands Grenache, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £100 www.farehamwinecellar.co.uk
2021 Charles Melton, Nine Popes, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £80 www.hedonism.co.uk, www.valvonacrolla.co.uk, www.hic-winemerchants.com
2023 Swinney, Farvie Mourvèdre, Frankland River, WA 14% £89 www.greatwine.co.uk
Shiraz/Syrah & Friends
2022 Dandelion Vineyards, Lioness of McLaren Vale Shiraz, SA 14.5% £17 www.cambridgewine.com, www.barriquefinewines.com
2024 Paringa Estate, Estate Series Shiraz, Mornington Peninsula, Vic 13% £47 www.shelvedwine.com
2020 Yarra Yering, Dry Red No.2, Yarra Valley, Vic 13.5% £61 TBC
2023 Tim Smith, Bugalugs Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14% £22 www.leaandsandeman.co.uk
2023 Torbreck, The Struie Shiraz, SA 15% £50 www.majestic.co.uk
2023 Clonakilla, Shiraz/Viognier, Canberra, ACT 13% £110 www.bbr.com, www.hic-winemerchants.com
2022 Mount Langi Ghiran, Langi Shiraz, Grampians, Vic 14.8% £95 www.dvinecellars.com, www.igwines.com, www.lokiwine.co.uk
2023 Soul Growers, Slow Grown Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £39 www.woodwinters.com
2022 Teusner, Albert Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £40 www.greatwine.co.uk
2019 d’Arenberg, Dead Arm Shiraz, McLaren Vale, SA 14.5% £39 www.greatwine.co.uk
2021 Sons of Eden, Romulus Old Vines Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £59 www.ewwines.co.uk, www.vinvm.co.uk
2021 Langmeil, Orphan Bank Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.8% £52 www.vinvm.co.uk, www.hic-winemerchants.com
2021 Henschke, Mount Edelstone, Shiraz, Eden Valley, SA 14.5% £160 www.bbr.com, www.laywheeler.com
2020 Yalumba, The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz, Barossa, SA 14.5% £90 www.amathusdrinks.com, www.vinvm.co.uk
2021 Elderton, Command Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.9% £85 www.dvinecellars.com; £65 www.abingdonfinewine.com, www.londonendwines.com
2021 Kaesler, Old Bastard Shiraz, Barossa Valley, SA 14.5% £115 www.jeroboams.co.uk
2021 Penfolds, Grange, Bin 95, SA 14.5% £600 www.harrods.com, www.finewinedirect.co.uk, www.laithwaites.co.uk, www.abingdonfinewine.com
Fortified
NV Chambers Rosewood, Old Vine Rutherglen Muscat, Vic 17.5% £28 half bottle
www.corkage.co.uk, www.cambridgewine.com
NV Stanton & Killeen, Grand Topaque, Rutherglen, Vic 18.5% £46 half bottle www.farehamwinecellar.co.uk
2004 Seppeltsfield Para Tawny Single Vintage 21 Years, Aus 19.3% £60 www.bbr.com
